Self-anchoring spike.



S. OBEDA.

SELF ANCHORING SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1916.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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STEPHEN OIBEDA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-ANOHORING SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed June 6, 1916. Serial No. 102,028.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN OBEDA, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Anchoring Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in self-anchoring spikes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a spike adapted for railroad and similar uses provided with an anchoring means manually engageahle and automatically releasable whereby the spike is secured against removal when positioned in the work such as a railway tie.

A further object of the device is to provide a spike having a manually actuated anchoring means automatically locked in position when projected and retracted upon withdrawing the spike after the locking means has been released.

A still further object of the device is to provide an anchoring spike that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and capable of securing the spike in locked seating engagement within the work.

WVith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:Figure 1 is a side elevation of the spike with the anchoring means closed. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the spike locked in its anchored position within the work. Fig. at is a top plan view of the spike, and, Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view thereof upon the plane of the anchoring pivots with the anchor members partly extended.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a double headed spike of substantially the form of a railroad spike having a squared shaft 11 and a terminal head 12 at one end and a pointed opposite end 13.

The spike 10 is provided with an ax al bore '14 communicating at its lower end with a transverse slot 15 extending across the shank 11 at the point of connection of the pointed end'13 thereof, the slot 15 being substantially V-shaped with downwardly converging opposite sides or faces 16 parallel with the outer converging side faces 17 of the spike point 13.

A cylindrical bar 18 is longitudinally slidably mounted within the bore 14 of the spike and. has its inner end provided with oppositely arranged teeth 19 in constant mesh with the teeth 20 upon the substantially semi-circular ends 21 of anchoring arms 22 pivotally mounted within the slot 15 upon transverse pins 23. The arms 22' are normally positioned inwardly of the slot 15 with their free ends in contact with each other and with their outer faces substantially flush with the V-shaped sides of the spike point 13. The upper free end of the bar 18 is arranged slightly above a transverse opening 2% in the spike head 12 when the arms 22 are closed while a bolt 25 is 'slidably positioned within the opening 24 may be inserted in the upper open end of the bore 1 1 and bar 18 driven downwardly,

which action forces the arms 22 outwardly upon their pivots'23, the sharpened outer edges of the'arms cutting their way upwardly in arcuate paths through the tie 27. WV hen the bar 18 is depressed with the arms 22 fully outstretched, the bolt 25 under the influence of the spring 26 passes inwardly of the bore 1 1 overlying the upper end of the bar 18, thereby locking the anchoring arms in their outstretched operative positions. With the spike locked in the tie, it will be impossible to withdraw or loosen the same without first releasingthe bolt 25 by exerting an outward pressure upon the spring 26 which moves the bolt 25 from engagement with the bar 18 and after which release of the bar '18, the spike may be withdrawn, which action forces the arms 18 to return to their seated positions within the slot 15 inoperatively closed until again forced out-wardl' -y. A serviceable spike is thus provided readily locked to the work although easily withdrawn when desired and while the present form of the same is believed to be preferred, minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is A railway spike comprising a shaft having a head at one end and arV-shaped point at its opposite end, the said shaft having an axial bore therethrough and a transverse slot communicating with the said bore and having downwardly converging faces paral- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patent lel with the outer sides of the said shaft point, anchoring arms having outer sharp-- ened edges pivoted within the said slot, an; operating bar longitudinally shiftable within the said bore having geared connections with the said arms,theshaft head having an; opening therethrough communicating with wardly of the free end of the said bar when the arms are in their, operative position,

and a retractable sprlng operating means for the said bolt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signw.

ture.

STEPHEN OBED'As Washington, I). G. 

